Philip Schofield 's ex-girlfriend Marika Tautz has opened up about their passionate romance and insisted the star would have found it "impossible" to come out as gay.
The This Morning host dated TV floor manager Marika during a stint working in New Zealand 37 years ago.
He had moved to the country with his parents at the age of 19 and landed a job hosting teen pop music show Shazam!
Marika was a steady girlfriend and she claims he even vowed to propose by presenting her with a promise ring.
Speaking about their relationship, Marika, who now works as a nurse in the US, told the Daily Mail : "We were an item for a couple of years.
"We got on really well. He was a funny guy, kind, sensitive. He wrote me the most beautiful love letters."
Phil came out as gay earlier this year, Marika insisted she had no idea about his true sexuality.
She said: "There was probably something underlying but when he was with me I never knew.
"We had a full physical relationship. He was a regular guy, I never suspected anything."
Marika went on to add Phil would have found it "impossible" for him to come out at the time, explaining: "If he had, it could have jeopardised it all [his TV career]."
Phil went on to move back to the UK, where he continued his TV career and eventually married Stephanie Lowe in 1993.
They have no split but continue to live together after Phil bravely went public with his sexuality at the start of the year during a poignant This Morning appearance.
The telly star is expected to tell the story behind his coming out in his new book Life Is What You Make It.
Reports suggested the presenter was offered a staggering £1.5million deal to discuss his coming out journey.
After putting off writing his story, Phil explained that lockdown was the perfect opportunity for him to put pen to paper – something he has been contemplating for over 44 years.
